Dresden 2011 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 6: Quantum Effects: Light Scattering and Propagation
Q 6.3: Talk
Monday, March 14, 2011, 11:15–11:30, SCH A01
Creation of Strongly Correlated States for Photons using Rydberg Interactions — •Johannes Otterbach1, Alexey V. Gorskov2, Thomas Pohl3, Mikhail D. Lukin4, and Michael Fleischhauer1 — 1Fachbereich Physik & Forschungszentrum OPTIMAS, TU Kaiserslautern — 2Physics Department, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA — 3Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme, Dresden — 4Physics Department, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
Due to their strong long-range interaction and high level of controllability Rydberg-atoms are especially well suited for applications in quantum-information [1]. We study the interaction of single- or few-photon pulses in a coherently driven ensemble of Rydberg atoms exhibiting a ladder-like linkage pattern. Under conditions of electromagnetically induced transparency the photons form quasi-particles, so-called dark-state polaritons [2]. We investigate the effect of the strong Rydberg interactions on the polaritons. In particular we discuss two-particle correlations which are shown to decay very quickly to zero within the so-called blockade radius if the lower transition is close to resonance. Away from resonance temporary two-polariton bound states are formed. On length scales large compared to the blockade radius the Rydberg polaritons experience a repulsive interaction. Finally we discuss the formation of strongly correlated many-photon states.
[1] M. Saffman et al., Rev. Mod. Phys. 82, 2313 (2010).
[2] M. Fleischhauer et al., Rev. Mod. Phys. 77, 633 (2005).